Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: Researchers Awarded NIH Grant to Explore Cardiovascular Disease Cues Hidden in Dental Scans

Mina Mahdian, associate professor in the Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine Department of Prosthodontics and Digital Technology, and Prateek Prasanna, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics, have received a $300,000 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore whether routine dental imaging can be used to detect early signs of heart disease. The two-year research project is titled “Automated Characterization of Arterial Calcification in Dental Cone Beam Computed Tomography as Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease.” Read more.

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Surgeons use Computer-Assisted Surgery to Reduce Head Size

Up to 5% of infants today are born with abnormally large heads, a condition known as macrocephaly. While it can be genetic, the condition is often caused by hydrocephalus, or an imbalance in fluid production and absorption in the brain. Read more.

Dental Education

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Students Begin Clinical Training

Ninety-six members of the Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Class of 2026 made the transition from classroom studies to clinical practice at a recognition ceremony held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. Family and friends of the students attended to watch as students made the ceremonial leap. Read more.

Redefining Success: Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester Grads Urged to Lead with Compassion

“The world needs healers, not just clinicians. Compassion, not just competence.” Wise words from Hans Malmstrom, DDS to the Eastman Institute for Oral Health Class of 2025. The chair of General Dentistry was the featured speaker at the recent graduation ceremonies for students earning master’s degrees and certificates in 10 specialty and advanced training programs. Read more.

Oral Healthcare Access

Touro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical College: Great Things Are Happening in Albuquerque

The state-of-the-art new patient clinic in Albuquerque, Touro Dental Health, was a hub of activity for the past two weeks, as the amazing teams of TCDM New Yorkers and New Mexico joined forces to work on the final “go live” plans before the opening. On June 25, Touro Dental Health officially started seeing its first patients in the new clinic. Read more.

Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: Redefining Dentistry in Primary Care a Must

By weaving oral health into primary care education, research, and community practice, recent studies demonstrate that prevention-driven, patient-centered care is imperative for a healthy population. “The overwhelming evidence compiled in this issue will help shape the future of dental and medical collaboration,” said Linda Rasubala, DDS, PhD, MSHPE, co-editor of the special issue that features 17 papers from authors around the world who assert that embedding dentistry within primary care will improve prevention and chronic-disease management as well as foster health equity. Read more.

NYU College of Dentistry Researchers Find that School Dental Treatments Stop Kids’ Tooth Decay in Its Tracks

Results of a large clinical trial, part of the CariedAway cavity prevention program and published in JAMA Network Open, showed that two topical treatments — atraumatic restorations (ART) and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) — applied to kids’ cavities can stop the majority of those cavities from progressing for years.

“This study is our most robust analysis of these different cavity prevention techniques, as we focused on decay on each tooth surface and measured it up to four years,” said Ryan Richard Ruff, PhD, MPH, associate professor of epidemiology & health promotion and a principal investigator of CariedAway. Read more.

Faculty News

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: Professor Joins Full-Time General Dentistry Faculty

Jennifer Englebright, BA ’05, DMD, a longtime general dentist on the north shore of Long Island, has been appointed a full-time clinical assistant professor in the Department of General Dentistry at Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine. Dr. Englebright, who will join the SDM faculty in July, has spent the past 15 years in private practice, most recently in Port Jefferson. Read more.

Eastman Institute For Oral Health, University of Rochester: Dr. Carlo Ercoli Named 102nd President of the Academy of Prosthodontics

Dr. Carlo Ercoli (MBA ’19, Perio ’12, Prostho ’96), chair, EIOH Prosthodonitics, has been named the 102nd President of the Academy of Prosthodontics (AP). Dr. Ercoli was formally installed by AP 2024 President Dr. Izchak Barzilay (Prostho ’86, MS ’91,) at its recent annual meeting in Scottsdale, Arizona. Read more.

Awards

Columbia University College of Dental Medicine Professor Wins Provost’s Teaching and Learning Award

Carol Kunzel, PhD, professor of Foundational Sciences in Dental Medicine and Sociomedical Sciences at CUMC has received an Innovative Course Design award from Columbia’s Office of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation. The award, which supports the redesign of existing courses or the design of new courses to improve teaching and learning using innovative learning strategies, is a part of a competitive grant program meant to encourage faculty to innovate and experiment with projects that focus on inclusive pedagogy, collaborative peer learning and mentoring, and teaching with AI. Read more.

Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine: Professor Honored with Prestigious Feldman Service Award

Guenter Jonke, DMD, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Stony Brook, was honored with the prestigious New York State Dental Association (NYSDA) Mark J. Feldman Distinguished Service Award. He received the award at the NYSDA House of Delegates annual meeting on Long Island in May. Read more.

University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine: Oral Biology Professor Wins Global Award for Pioneering Tooth Enamel Study

University at Buffalo oral biologist Hyuk-Jae (Edward) Kwon recently published a study examining how the gene KMT2D (also known as MLL4) affects the development of tooth enamel. The research also explored what happens when the gene is missing and suggested that targeting KMT2D with certain drugs could reverse weakened enamel and even prevent craniofacial birth defects. Read more.

More News

NYU College of Dentistry PROHmotion Blog: Lowering the Cost Barrier to Healthcare Careers

The latest NYU Dentistry PROHmotion blog post addresses the affordability of health professions education and considers potential avenues for making entry into these professions less burdensome. Read more.